Sutera plant named &#39;dancop40&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Sutera  cultivar named ‘DANCOP40’ is disclosed, characterized by extra large white flowers, early and abundant flowering. The new variety has a compact growth habit and moderate vigor. The new variety is a  Sutera , normally produced as an outdoor garden or container plant.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Sutera cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gavriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to produce new Sutera varieties for ornamental commercial applications. The cross resulting in this new variety was made during May 2008.

The seed parent is the unpatented, proprietary seedling variety referred to as Sutera cordata ‘Cv-08-970’ The pollen parent is unknown, as the crossing resulting in ‘DANCOP40’ was an open pollination, with unidentifiable pollen parents. The new variety was discovered in March 2009 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resulting from the 2008 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP40’ by vegetative cuttings was first performed at a research greenhouse in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel in April 2009 and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘DANCOP40’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DANCOP40’ These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DANCOP40’ as a new and distinct Sutera cultivar:

1. Mounded, compact growth habit

2. Extra large white flowers

3. Very free branching plants

4. Early, abundant flowering

5. Moderately vigorous growth

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP40’ are similar to plants of the seed parent, Sutera cordata ‘Cv08-970’ in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP40’ have a less trailing, more compact plant habit, larger flowers and more branches per plant. Additionally, the new cultivar begins flowering earlier, produces more flowers, and slightly less vigorous plants than the seed parent.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP40’ are comparable to the commercial variety Sutera ‘DANCOP25’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,747. The two Sutera varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics however, the new variety ‘DANCOP40’ differs in having slightly smaller flowers, somewhat less vigorous growth and an overall more compact plant habit. Additionally, the new variety produces less branches per plant than ‘DANCOP25’.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘DANCOP40’ can also be compared to the commercial variety Sutera ‘DANCOP28’ U.S. Plant Pat. No. 21,551. These varieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics, however ‘DANCOP40’ has slightly smaller flowers of a different color Additionally, plants of ‘DANCOP40’ are somewhat taller and wider than ‘DANCOP28’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color a typical plant of ‘DANCOP40’ grown in a greenhouse, in a 13 cm basket. Age of the plant photographed is approximately 3 months from a rooted cutting. FIG. 2 illustrates in full color a close up of a typical bloom of ‘DANCOP40’. The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and although colors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart 2001 except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observations and measurements describe ‘DANCOP40’ plants grown in a greenhouse during Winter and Spring in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The growing temperature ranged from 15° C. to 26° C. during the day and from 13° C. to 16° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normal sunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Sutera cordata ‘DANCOP40’ -   Propagation:     -   -   Time to initiate roots.—About 7 to 10 days at approximately             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Semi-trailing, compact.         -   Pot size of plant described.—13 cm.         -   Height.—Approximately 18 cm.         -   Plant spread.—approximately 60 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate vigor.         -   Branching characteristics.—Very free branching.         -   Length of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 40 cm.         -   Diameter of lateral branches.—Approximately 0.2 cm.         -   Quantity of primary lateral branches.—Approximately 12.         -   Characteristics of primary lateral branches.—Form:             Cylindrical Diameter: Approximately 0.2 cm. Color: Near RHS             Green 137c Texture: Velvety Strength: Strong.         -   Internode length.—Approximately 2 cm. -   Foliage:     -   -   Leaf.—Arrangement: Opposite, petiolate Quantity:             Approximately 50 per branch. Average Length: 3.0 cm. Average             Width: 2.5 cm. Shape of blade: Ovate Apex: Obtuse Base:             Acuminate Margin: Serrate Texture of top surface: velvety             Pubescence: Slightly pubescent Aspect: Flat Attachment:             Approximately 90° angle to branch. Color: Young foliage             upper side: RHS Green 137 C Young foliage under side: RHS             Green 137 D Mature foliage upper side: RHS Green 137 A             Mature foliage under side: RHS Green 137 B Venation: Type:             Pinnate. Venation color upper side: RHS Green 137 A Venation             color under side: RHS Green 137 B Petiole: Length:             Approximately 0.5 cm. Diameter: Approximately 0.1 cm. Color:             RHS Green 137A Texture: Slightly velvety -   Flower:     -   -   Natural flowering season.—All year round.         -   Days to flowering from rooted cutting.—about 45.         -   Inflorescence and flower type and habit.—Axillary, solitary             salverform single flowers.         -   Rate of flower opening.—3 to 5 days from bud to fully opened             flower.         -   Flower longevity on plant.—about 7 days.         -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Persistent.         -   Bud.—Shape: Spatulate Length: about 1.5 cm Diameter: about             0.6 cm Color: RHS Green-Yellow 1D.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: about 2.8 cm. Length: about 1.6 cm.             Corolla tube diameter: about 0.4 cm.         -   Corolla/petals.—Arrangement: Symmetric Lobe Length: about             1.1 cm. Lobe Width: about 1.1 cm. Quantity: 5 Texture:             Velvety Lobe Apex: Rounded Lobe shape: Rounded Margin:             Entire         -   Color.—When opening: Upper surface: RHS White 155C Lower             surface: RHS White 155C Fully opened: Upper surface: RHS             White 155C Lower surface: RHS White 155C Visible Corolla             tube color: RHS Yellow-Orange 23 A.         -   Calyx/sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5 Shape: Linear Length:             About 0.8 cm Width: About 0.1 cm Apex: Acute Base: Fused.             Margin: Entire Texture: Slightly velvety Color: Upper             Surface: RHS Green 137 C Lower Surface: RHS Green 137 C.         -   Peduncle.—None.         -   Pedicel.—Length: Approximately 1.2 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 0.1 cm. Color: Near RHS Green 137C             Orientation: Slanted upward and outward Pubescence: Slightly             pubescent.         -   Fragrance.—None. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Number: 4 Filament length: Approximately 1 cm.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Cylindrical Length: Approximately 0.1 cm.             Color: RHS Yellow 13B Pollen: Color: RHS Yellow 13B             Quantity: Abundant.         -   Pistil.—Number: 1 Length: about 1.4 cm. Style: Length: about             1.1 cm. Color: RHS Yellow-Green146C Stigma: Shape: Undulate             Color: RES Yellow-Green 152C Ovary Color: RHS Green 137 B. -   Other characteristics:     -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruits: About 20 elliptic, small             (1 mm long) beige colored seeds per one elliptic Brown             capsule.         -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor             susceptibility to pathogens and pests common to Sutera have             been observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—The new variety tolerates             temperatures between 5 to 40° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Sutera plant named ‘DANCOP40’ as herein illustrated and described. 